Title: An Ending And A Beginning

Author: Phatz

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Don't own them. So get the hell off my back.

Summary: Logan and Marie's friendship takes a nosedive, but will it lead to something better? Or is it too late?

Authors Notes: The second Chapter.

~Thoughts~

Telepathic Speech

Chapter 2

Logan would have left. Hell, he wanted to leave. Marie hated him. She hasn't talked to him in six weeks. Not a single word. But he promised to protect her, and he kept his promises. And he couldn't protect her if he wasn't here. So he stayed, to make sure she was all right. He watched her in and around the mansion, and looked out for her on missions. Even if she didn't notice, or care.

Other than that, Logan stayed in the attic of the mansion, his new room. He moved his stuff up there, which was very little, and made it his room after Marie told him he was too close to her. Their rooms used to be right next to each other.

Logan sat next to the attic window, and peered out into the yard. The sun shone brightly in the sky, and a light breeze swayed the trees. It was beautiful out, even if Logan could give a shit. He was focused on Marie, sitting on a bench, cuddling with Remy. She looked happy. Hell, she was happy. No thanks to him. It was all because of that damn Cajun. He really did seem to make her happy. Logan was at least thankful for that, he always wanted to see her happy.

He knew deep down it was better this way. He would have only hurt Marie in the end, even worse than he already has. He fucked up any relationship he had. True, he barely had any relationships in his remembered life, but he still managed to fuck those up.

He also knew he had absolutely nothing to offer her. He was a man with no past and no future. He was violent, short tempered, and generally pissed off all the time. And he couldn't stay in one place for too long. Not great characteristics for a relationship. He thought he could change for her, but he knew that would have never happened. His personality was the only thing he had, and it would be hard to give up, or change, even if he wanted to.

He was destined to live his seemingly endless life alone. And he couldn't stop feeling sorry for himself. And he fucking hated feeling sorry for himself. He grabbed his bottle of whiskey, and chugged it.

________________________________________________________________________

Marie sat on the bench in Remy's arms. She looked towards the forest, gazing at the leaves changing color as winter approached. Despite it being early October, it was relatively warm outside, which meant she could wear less clothing, something she did as often as possible since she learned how to control her mutation. Walking around covered head to toe in clothing for four years tended to do that to a person, or so she thought.

Remy shifted his weight under her, and let out a sigh. Marie was generally happy, but something was missing. She really didn't know what it was, and that bugged her.

"Rogue," Remy began "Remy needs to go to town for a few days. And he has to leave now."

"Now? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Marie asked.

"Remy know you would be upset chere, and he was avoiding it as long as possible."

"Ok, fine. Go."

"Petite, please don't be upset."

"I'm not." Marie lied. Remy was leaving on these trips more and more, and she was beginning to wonder what they were really for. The professor never sent him on them. A thought of him cheating on her popped in her head, but she immediately pushed that away.

Remy got up, and gently kissed Marie on the check. "Remy will see you later chere."

"Ok. Have fun." She bit out, hoping Remy didn't notice how upset she suddenly was. She watched as Remy walked away, without even giving her a second glance, upsetting her more. She needed to talk to someone. She used to always talk to Logan when she had problems, and he would always listen, trying to help her out as much as he could. In fact, Logan was always did anything she ever needed, and asked nothing in return. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She missed him.

"Hey Roguey! How you doing?" Jubilee exclaimed, bouncing over to Marie.

"Hey Jubes." Marie replied sadly.

"What's wrong Chica? Is it Remy?"

"Yeah. He left again, on another one of his 'business' trips."

"He's been doing that a lot lately huh?"

"Yeah."

Jubilee looked at her friend. There was something else. Marie would not appear to be this upset if Remy was just going into town a lot. Unless… "Do you think he is cheating on you?"

Marie tried to push that thought down, but she couldn't. She trusted Remy. "I don't know. I trust him, I really do, but…"

"But?"

"Sometimes when he gets home from these trips, he smells like sex and other women."

Jubilee gave her a puzzled look.

"I still have some of Logan's senses," Marie said, tapping her nose "They're not nearly as strong as his, but they are strong that I can smell that on Remy."

"Why would he be cheating on you?" Jubilee asked. It's not that she liked Remy. In fact, she would not put it past Remy to be the unfaithful type. But she wondered why he would cheat on Marie.

"Probably because…because I haven't had sex with him." Marie blushed, and turned her head away.

"You haven't had sex with him!? I mean after all that time where you couldn't touch, I figured you two would be going at it like jackrabbits."

"I've done stuff with him." Marie quickly replied. "I just haven't had sex with him. I mean Jubes; I'm a virgin, which makes it a big deal. And add to the fact touch in itself for me is a huge deal…it just makes it a lot more complicated."

"Yeah, I guess you got a point." Jubilee forgot that even though Marie could now touch without any worries, she was still, for lack of a better word, touchy on the subject. Even if she always wore as little of clothing as possible. "I guess that would be a good reason for him to cheat on you." Jubilee slapped her hand over her mouth, not believing she said that out loud.

Marie's face fell. "You're right."

"Rogue I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."

"It's ok." Marie stared towards the mansion, up at the attic window.

"Why do you trust him?"

"What?"

"Why do you trust Remy? It seems like you're pretty sure he is cheating on you."

"Oh. Well…" Marie looked up at the attic window again. "I guess it's because I have too."

Jubilee snorted. "Have to? You have to? That's the stupidest thing I ever heard. You don't"

"Yes I do, I threw away my friendship with Logan for my trust in Remy." Marie looked down at her hands, hiding her face. She felt terrible. Her boyfriend was cheating on her, and she no longer had her best friend because of said boyfriend.

"Dude, your friendship with him is not over. Have you seen the guy? Ever since you guy's had that fight, he's been all miserable and cranky. More than normal. And that's a lot. Just tell him your sorry. Simple." Jubilee said, snapping her gum.

"It's not that simple Jubes. I don't think he will for give me."

"Why not?"

Marie shifted her weight. She never told anyone this, and she wasn't sure she should tell anybody, even Jubilee, now.

"Well?" Jubilee asked impatiently.

"Look Jubes, what I'm about to tell you is secret. You can't tell anybody. Ok?"

"Yeah, ok."

"Before Logan and Remy had that fight, Logan told me he was in love with me."

Jubilee was stunned. She always knew Logan was in love with Rogue. Hell, any idiot could see that. But she never knew Logan actually told her. "Why didn't you tell me? That's like, huge news! What did you say to him?"

"I told him I loved him, but not like that. I told him I loved him like a brother."

Jubilee laughed. "Bullshit Rogue. Everyone knows you're totally head-over-heels in love with him. Even now."

"Well at the time, I thought I was in love with Remy. So it's not like I lied to him or anything."

"And now?"

"No, I'm not in love with Remy. I know that."

"No, not Remy. Are you in love with Logan?"

"I don't know. Marie answered honestly.

"Well there is only one way to find out. Go talk to him."

"That's the thing Jubes. I don't think he wants to talk to me. When I told him I loved him like a brother, he was hurt. I mean really hurt. I never saw him look like that before. And then with the whole thing with Remy, I told him I hated him. I called him an animal. And I threw his dog tag at him. God, Jubes I hurt him so much. I don't think he could ever forgive me."

"Then what have you got to lose? You guys aren't talking now. What's the worst that could happen?"

Marie blankly looked at Jubilee. She was right. What's the worst thing that could happen? Her and him not talking to each other? They weren't doing that now. "Your right." Marie said.

"Aren't I always?"

Marie stood up. "I'm going to talk to him right now."

Jubilee smiled. "You do that Chica."

Marie pulled her hair into a loose ponytail, and smoothed out her skirt. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and headed towards the mansion.

All X-men, please report to the mission room immediately. Professor X's voice sounded in her head.

"Jubes, did you hear that?"

"Yep. Looks like we gotta play hero again. Let's go!" Jubilee began to run towards the mansion. Marie sighed. She would have to talk to Logan later.

(To Be Continued)